Apartments going in on Rt. 58
Amherst Township development begins east of Route 58, south of turnpike with more to come
Richard Perrins
The Community Guide
Construction is underway in Amherst Township for Redwood Amherst, a development of 205 single-story apartments.
The development, at 1120 Red Thimbleberry Drive, is part of the township’s Sandstone housing and commercial development project. Sandstone will eventually encompass about 264 acres, according to planning documents that have been in the works since 2021, and will be just south of the Ohio Turnpike between state Route 58 and Oberlin Road.
The Redwood development will take up about 30 of those acres. Aryn Derryberry, Redwood Living’s regional manager, said the first phase of the project’s construction will put in 153 apartment homes, with the developer hoping to move in its first residents by March 2025.
Redwood Living is based in Independence and builds apartment homes and complexes across the midwest.
The second phase of the project, which Derryberry said has no official timeline and still needs to be approved by the township’s planning officials, will add another 52 units.
“There’s not much out there at the moment,” Derryberry said. “I really think it will help the area to boom. Growth and adding homes helps communities grow, helps schools grow. I think it will be a really nice project when it’s all said and done.”
Two of the new development’s apartments will be 896 square feet, have one bedroom, one bathroom and a single-car garage, Derryberry said.
The remaining units will have two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car
garage, she said.
Floor plans for the apartments will vary within seven different designs, Derryberry said, but each will have single-story open floor plans, attached garages and private entrances with individual street addresses.
The two-bedroomed apartments will be 1,294 square feet on average, she said, though the largest unit in the development will be 1,620 square feet.
Derryberry said rent for the one-bedroom apartments will start at $1,999 a month, and rent will start at $2,199 a month for the two-bedroom apartments.
Redwood previously built developments in Elyria and Sandusky. Derryberry said the design of the Amherst Township apartments will mirror those designs.
“We want folks to like where they live,” Derryberry said.
“We build a quality apartment home,
moment of silence Saturday.
Gold Star families remember
Carissa Woytach
The Community Guide
ELYRIA — More than a dozen people gathered at the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument in downtown Elyria to lay a wreath for the service members lost in conflicts around the world.
Led by Kimberly Hazelgrove, whose husband Brian died in action in Iraq in 2004, said some of those gathered were descendants of those killed long ago — in World War I or World War II. Others suffered more recent losses.
“That’s the thing with grief,” she said. “It never quite goes away. And so the county has made a very physical promise that our families are no longer going to be ignored or forgotten.”
Hazelgrove, who was a sergeant in the U.S. Army, said it is the Gold Star families who are the legacy of those fallen service members.
“We are the blood of our service members,” she said. “We are raising our children to have honor and respect and to do good in this world and hopefully continue the good work that they did for the country.”
“Let future generations know that here in Lorain County we honor, to a high degree, the choice of military service and sacrifice,” Lorain County Veteran Service Commission Director Jacob Smith said
The memorial was held on the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
a
at the
and hope we can continue to provide good service so people continue to have a good relationship with us.”
Redwood is one of four development areas that will be part of Sandstone, including a commercial development area that will take up about 40 acres, Amherst Township Trustee Neil Lynch said.
The other two areas are both residential. Four Seasons at Sandstone, an 86-acre development of 263 single-family residential homes, is currently under construction by K. Hovnanian Homes. The other, Sandstone Mill, will have 194 single-family homes on a 62-acre area constructed by Ryan Homes.
The Sandstone development will include a connector road — Sandstone Parkway — between state Route 58 to the west and Oberlin Road to the east, Lynch said, along with a walking trail to the south.
Fore!
Ground broken for Topgolf on Chester Road in Avon
Richard Perrins
The Community Guide
Topgolf will open a location in Avon in late 2025.
The golf and entertainment venue broke ground on a two-level facility at 35343 Chester Road in Avon.
Mayor Bryan Jensen said the company has been working with the Avon Planning Commission since late 2023 and is hoping the venue will open by September.
The Avon facility eventually will have 64 outdoor, climate-controlled golf bays with loungestyle furniture and hightop tables, according to a Topgolf news release on Monday. Each of the bays has technology that traces the path of the golf ball as patrons hit it.
The venue also will have a full-service bar, restaurant, outdoor patio and a private event space, the release said. Once open, the venue will employ about 200 people.
“Topgolf is excited to grow its Ohio footprint into Avon,” Topgolf Chief Development Officer Chris Callaway said in the release.
“We can’t wait to introduce the community to our unique style of play that brings together amazing food, fun and games for
experienced golfers and those just looking to have a great time.”
The Avon venue will be Topgolf’s fifth in Ohio, with locations in Independence, Columbus, Akron and Cincinnati.
Jacobs Real Estate Services, a Cleveland area commercial real estate group, partnered with Topgolf for preconstruction work at the site, Jensen said. The Avon Planning Commission approved the project at its meeting on Feb. 24.
Topgolf facilities are typically large, with enough space for a massive mock fairway and the hitting bays themselves. Jensen said the design for the Avon venue is different from the location in Independence — more compact, he said.
While Jensen couldn’t give size estimates for Avon’s venue as of Tuesday, the Independence facility has three levels and encompasses 65,000 square feet. The area where the venue will be located has been a hot spot for development in recent years, Jensen said, as an effort to offer residents and visitors “different choices” from food to entertainment.
“We’ve been selective in terms of what goes there,” Jensen said.
Kimberly Hazelgrove places
KRISTIN BAUER / COMMUMITY GUIDE PHOTOSCLE
Family members of fallen soldiers gather around the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument for a
On the road
Guide Community members gathered Monday evening to discuss the future of Northeast Ohio’s transportation.
The meeting was a part of the Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency’s tour of public discussions regarding four potential pathways of future development to the region’s transportation infrastructure. It was held in the John A. Spitzer Conference Center on the campus of the Lorain County Community College.
“One of them is to maintain, one of them is looking at the future, one of them has got so much investment in terms of technology,” said Ali Makarachi, director of transportation planning and engineering with NOACA. “The whole point of meeting is to get the people and feedback from them. … My job is to ... make it easy for people to understand.”
The meeting, which was organized to gather public input, follows plans to update the agency’s long-range goal for Northeast Ohio’s transportation network.
Since January 2020, NOACA has developed eNEO2050, a project focused on equitable access, ranging from land use, housing, jobs, health, economics and quality of life.
“All of them, we tried to make it equitable to the people,” Makarachi said. “The backbone of all this is to provide (a) multimodal
NOACA holds public input meeting, looks toward transportation future
system, access and mobility for everybody.”
Makarachi outlined the four future scenarios NOACA may select following community input.
Scenario one included an option to maintain the current infrastructure without any changes. Scenario two focused on improving the automobile infrastructure, including traffic signal optimization and reducing highway bottlenecks.
NOACA’s third scenario is a robust investment on public transportation, Makarachi said. It includes visionary transit corridors, autonomous shuttles, reducing transit commute times to major job hubs and expanding bike and pedestrian infrastructure for environmental justice areas.
The fourth scenario is a combination of the second and third options, according to NOACA’s presentation..
Regardless of what scenario is selected, Makarachi said improving access to transportation and freedom of movement is paramount.
“We have to provide for everybody,” he said. “We have to provide for any mode. If we truly say we are talking about multimodal systems, we are planning for that.”
Linda Arbogast, the sustainability coordinator for Oberlin, was in attendance Monday night.
While Arbogast did not know exactly which solution would be the best fit for the region, she said public transportation has the ability to expand opportunities for people.
LETTERS
Letters to the editor should be:
• Written to the editor. We do not allow open letters or those to specific residents, politicians, or groups.
• Concise. There is a limit of 350 words on letters.
• Polite. Letters that use crude language or show poor taste will be rejected.
• Opinions. We reserve space for letters that share a unique perspective. Press releases are not letters and will be considered for publication in other parts of the paper.
• Free of advertising, product or service endorsements or complaints, poetry, language that could raise legal problems, or claims that are measurably false.
• Signed. Include your name, address, and daytime telephone number for our records. Up to two signatures.
• The deadline to submit letters is 10 a.m. each Monday. They are used on a space-available basis. We reserve the right to edit any submission for length, grammar, spelling, and clarity, or to reject any submission.
“I definitely am more excited about increasing public transit throughout the county, especially in the rural areas,” Arbogast said.
“It’s been really hard.”
Arbogast mentioned Oberlin’s electric public transit that was recently installed, saying it has “really opened up opportunities for people with disabilities to get on the bus. It’s been exciting to see.”
Monday night’s meeting was attended by roughly 20 community members. Questions and concerns regarding the implementation and feasibility of potential future plans were raised by several members of the audience.
“My concern is, who looks at the total picture to get to the consequences of everything that’s going to happen?” Pat Borke said. “Has anyone considered the consequences of the end product?”
Beyond the implementation of things like electric vehicle charging stations, Borke said she was concerned about government oversight and control.
Other audience members raised concerns regarding the cost of potential future plans.
“It’s a benefit-cost issue all the way through,” Makarachi said. “Any project, we do that. So that definitely comes at different numbers.”
Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.
Route 20 dedicated to veterans
The Community Guide A highway cutting across 12 states will be renamed in honor of the nation’s veterans.
U.S. Route 20, which runs through Lorain County, will be designated the National Medal of Honor highway, as passed by legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, and others.
The legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House on Monday and previously passed the Senate last December. It now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
In a news release, Kaptur highlighted the highway’s renaming as an important step to memorialize those who have received the country’s highest military decoration.
The Medal of Honor is awarded to Armed Forces members for acts of valor “at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty,” according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
Of the millions of veterans to have served, more than 3,500 have received the Medal of Honor, including 331 from Ohio since the Civil War.
The first Medal of Honor recipient was from Ohio: Jacob Parrott, of Kenton. He received the recognition for actions as a Union soldier in the Civil War during Andrew’s Raid in April
1862. Kenton, along with 22 others who volunteered for the raid, were honored. According to the Ohio Department of Veterans Services, three recipients are from Lorain County: Marine Cpl. Charles Berry, Marine Brig. Gen. George Reid and Army Lt. Col. John Steele.
“Three hundred thirty-one Ohioans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, several of whom hail from communities along U.S. Route 20. With this bill’s passage, I know Northern Ohio — from Williams to Ashtabula County — will join the nation in paying tribute to the valor of its Medal of Honor recipients,” Kaptur said in the release. “It was an honor to help lead this legislation.”
Legislatures and governors in all 12 states along the highway have designated the roadway as Medal of Honor highways, covering all of the 3,365-mile Medal of Honor Highway across the country. The 12 states along U.S. Route 20 account for about 62 percent of all awards presented since the Civil War.
U.S. Route 20 is the longest continuous highway in the country. It runs through Oregon, Idaho, Montana,
“Three hundred thirtyone Ohioans have been awarded the Medal of Honor, several of whom hail from communities along U.S. Route 20. With this bill’s passage, I know Northern Ohio — from Williams to Ashtabula County — will join the nation in paying tribute to the valor of its Medal of Honor recipients. It was an honor to help lead this legislation.”
Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo
Kaptur
GARRETT LOOKER / COMMUNITY GUIDE
Ali Makarachi, NOACA director of transportation planning and engineering, presents the agency’s goals for Northeast Ohio’s future at a public hearing Monday in the John A. Spitzer Conference Center at LCCC.
Garrett Looker
The Community
‘The Mermaid’s Tale’ sells most Pandora
Shop owner wins award, trip to Thailand
Christina Jolliffe
The Community Guide
AMHERST -- A local businesswoman’s year started and ended with success.
Judy Recknagel, owner of The Mermaid’s Tale in Amherst, and her staff were named the Pandora Shop in Shop Store of the Year.
Along with being named the number one store in the North American market, which includes the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean, Recknagel, two employees, and all three of their significant others traveled to Bangkok, Thailand, to tour the Pandora factory.
State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, recognized Recknagel and her staff for their win on Friday.
“It’s still surreal to all of us,” Recknagel said. “We worked really hard to do it. It meant a lot. It’s the epitome for someone who is in business for themselves.”
When it opened in 1992, The Mermaid’s Tale was an antique shop, but by 2008, the business was failing, Recknagel said.
“It almost turned into a museum,” she said. “People weren’t interested in antiques.
“They didn’t care about memories. I wanted to do something drastically different.” So, she turned the Mermaid’s Tale into a boutique, selling clothing, handbags, jewelry, and of course, Pandora.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” Recknagel said. “I basically started over and it was a grand slam.” Today, the shop includes Pandora jewelry, Brighton jewelry, UNO de 50 jewelry, Hobo handbags and a number of other wellknown brands.
In order to be a contender
recognized the shop for its award,
in the Store of the Year contest, which is held every year, a business must improve its Pandora numbers from the year before in three categories. Each year, there are 20 contenders.
“We were the only nonjeweler in the running,” Recknagel said.
While The Mermaid’s Tale had been up for the top award before, it had never made it into the top three.
“We worked hard,” she said. “We all did. We sold more units, but we were never pushy. Our customers helped us to do it.”
The trip to Thailand, which happened in August, was a once in a lifetime event that included winners from other Shop in Shop Stores of the Year from around the globe.
“The whole trip was unbelievable,” Recknagel said.
“We took a Thai cooking class, visited markets and they wined and dined us. They really took care of us.”
Recknagel spent four
AMHERST POLICE BLOTTER
Monday, Nov. 11
5:30 p.m. - 100 block of Milan Ave., private property vehicle accident.
Tuesday, Nov. 12
No time given - 8000 Oak Point Road, report of shoplifting at Target; Chenele Young, 35, of Lorain was issued a summons for theft, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Wednesday, Nov. 13
11:07 p.m. - police department, report of a sex offense that occurred at Day’s Inn, 934 N. Leavitt Rd.; the case is under investigation.
Thursday, Nov. 14
6:12 p.m. - 100 block of Lincoln St., harassment complaint; the subject of the complaint was contacted and advised to have no contact with the complainant.
Friday, Nov. 15
3:23 a.m. - 400 block of Central Drive, assisted the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office at a call of reported domestic violence; a woman was arrested on domestic violence charges and taken to Lorain County Jail.
10:45 a.m. - police department, fraud reported.
Monday, Nov. 18
6 p.m. - police department, during a call to a minor traffic accident on Cooper Foster Park Road, officers found one of the involved parties was wanted on an active warrant through the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The man was taken into custody on the original warrant for forgery and released to Erie County deputies.
9:05 p.m. - 1100 block of Milan Ave., report of assault; the victim was taken to the hospital and officers met with witnesses and the victim. The case is under investigation and no further information was released.
Sunday, Nov. 24
8:15 p.m. - Cooper Foster Park Road, traffic stop; citation issued for expired registration.
Thursday, Nov. 28
2;15 a.m. - Park Avenue, traffic stop; Jakob Rees, 27, of Wakeman was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, refusal to submit to blood-alcohol testing and one-way streets.
3:16 a.m. - North Main Street, an abandoned vehicle found in the middle of the road led to an arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated for owner Khennedy Scagliozzo, 24, of Lorain. Scagliozzo also was charged with refusal to submit to blood-alcohol testing, failure to control, and leaving the scene of an accident.
Friday, Nov. 29
12:48 a.m. - Meadowview Lane, officers responded to a residence where a man claimed he was kidnapped. After an investigation discovered the man was highly intoxicated, the man agreed to be taken to the hospital for an evaluation.
Saturday, Nov. 30
10:06 a.m. - no location given, traffic stop; driver was taken into custody on an active warrant for theft and released to deputies, who transported
days with the group of winners and another six days touring Thailand with just her five traveling companions, including her daughter, Stacey Recknagel, a buyer for The Mermaid’s Tale, and Wendy Abfall, a Pandora specialist at the store.
As for the future, Recknagel plans to continue doing what she has been doing.
“We already do really good business,” she said.
“We’re not going to change anything. We will keep up with trends, of course, but as far as our business approach and tactics, it’s good. Our big goal is to keep growing Pandora, Brighton and all of the other companies that support us.
“We’ve always been very proud to be a Pandora dealer. I’m proud of us and I’m proud of Pandora. It’s an amazing product.”
Contact Christina Jolliffe at ctnews@ chroniclet.com.
him to Lorain County Jail.
Monday, Dec. 2
No time given - 400 block of West St., domestic dispute reported; parties agreed to separate for the night after it was determined the argument was not physical.
Tuesday, Dec. 3
2:38 a.m. - 799 N. Leavitt Road, employees at Sheetz Gas Station reported a highly intoxicated man lying on the floor in the bathroom. The 31-year-old Lorain man was determined to be using drugs and in possession of drug paraphernalia and a small amount of narcotics; the case is under investigation and no further information was released.
9:46 p.m. - West Martin Avenue, report of an unresponsive man; the man was pronounced dead on the scene. No further information was released.
11:41 p.m. - 100 block of Woodhill Drive, a resident reported his home had been toilet-papered four times in the past two weeks. The most recent incident occurred between 10 and 11 p.m. that night, and previously it happened the night before Thanksgiving. The resident told police he also discovered a piece of siding he believes someone punched or struck with an object. A family member is a coach for the school district, which the resident believes may lead to kids “messing around” with his home. The resident has installed cameras and told police he will contact them if it happens again.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Judy Recknagel, owner of The Mermaid’s Tale in Amherst, holds the Pandora Shop in Shop Store of the Year award that she and her staff won. Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst,
$18M in delinquent real estate taxes collected
Dave O’Brien
The Community Guide
Lorain County collected $18 million in delinquent real estate taxes in 2024, county Treasurer Dan Talarek told the Board of Commissioners last week.
The commissioners accepted a report on those collections submitted by Talarek’s office and county Prosecutor J.D. Tomlinson’s office.
State law says county treasurer and prosecutors offices each get 2.5 percent of all delinquent real estate, personal, and mobile home
taxes and assessments they collect each year. It was seen as an incentive “because counties weren’t doing a good job collecting their delinquent taxes,” Talarek said.
That means the Treasurer’s Office got just over $451,081 in 2024, and the Tax Unit of the Prosecutor’s Office got just over $471,347 and anticipates collecting another $52,094 by the end of year, according to the board’s agenda.
Another 5 percent of the delinquent taxes collected goes to the county Land Bank, Talarek said.
In other business Commissioners signed a threeyear, $719,475 agreement with KnowledgeLake of St. Louis, Missouri, to provide records management for the county Records Center.
Using artificial intelligence, or AI, KnowledgeLake will “design, create and maintain with the cloud system documents” for the county Clerk of Courts, Records Center, Finance Department and Clerk of the Board of Commissioners.
Oberlin city prosecutor running for muni judge
The Community Guide
Chief Prosecutor Farah
Lillian Emeka announced her candidacy for judge of the Oberlin Municipal Court Wednesday.
“I am running for judge to ensure that each member of our community knows and can exercise their rights,” Emeka stated in a news release. “Having worked in this court for the past seven years, I have witnessed firsthand the importance of protecting the public interest by providing a fair and compassionate approach to justice.”
Emeka has more than 20
years of experience in the legal system as an attorney, according to the news release. She is set to run in the 2025 election.
Emeka has served as the chief prosecutor for Oberlin Municipal Court for more than seven years. If elected, she will be the lone judge in Oberlin Municipal Court.
“The court plays a pivotal role in maintaining the safety and integrity of the community, so I am committed to bringing compassion, respect and accountability to the bench,” Emeka said. “As a candidate for judge of the Oberlin Municipal Court, I promise to uphold the principles of equality and justice for all.”
Before serving as chief
prosecutor for the Oberlin Municipal Court, Emeka served seven years at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office.
Thomas A. Januzzi is currently the judge for the Oberlin Municipal Court. Januzzi has served since November 2001 and is in his fourth term.
Beyond her legal experience, Emeka has held positions with the Ruby N. Jones Community Scholarship Fund, MAD Factory Theatre Co., Family Planning Services and as chair of the Lorain County Urban League Board, according to the press release.
Emeka serves as the president of the Oberlin Schools Board of Education.
Safe Harbor to open child retreat center
The Community Guide
ELYRIA — Lorain County Safe Harbor will open a children’s service center early next year.
The Peace and Play Child Retreat Center will serve as drop-in child care for families staying at the Genesis House Domestic Violence shelter, offer a safe exchange program and supervised visitations, and additional programming for children served by the nonprofit, Executive Director Jill Psota-Vazquez said during its annual meeting luncheon Tuesday.
The center is in its former outreach building on Elyria Avenue in Lorain. Lorain County Safe Harbor vacated the space when it moved into the former American Red Cross Building at 2929 West River Road N. in Elyria.
Psota-Vazquez said the new building fills a need staff saw in the community it serves and puts to use a building that has sat vacant for more than a year.
Later in 2025, Safe Harbor plans to open transitional housing for families and individuals coming out of shelter. PsotaVazquez said that housing will be available rent-free for six to 12 months.
The 14-bed complex will have two single rooms and three family rooms, she said. Lorain County Safe Harbor is the only domestic violence-focused nonprofit in the
County Information Technology Director Todd Sharkey said the software will enhance county record keeping for a system that is “a mess,” with sometimes 25 years of records that still need scanned.
Hiring a company to scan all the documents waiting to be scanned would cost an estimated $3 million, he told the board. Records Center Manager Marilyn Velez said the county stores 11,000 boxes of records, some dating back to 1824. The software will require less
manual input and streamline searches for documents, Sharkey said.
Using the AI software, the system will automatically recognize documents, know what kind they are, where they need to be filed and processed, and pull relevant data from invoices for county processes, Sharkey said.
“I think this is one of those pieces of software out there that can transform an organization,” he said.
Contact Dave O’Brien at (440) 329-7129 or dobrien@chroniclet.com.
county, and it operates the county’s only domestic violence shelter.
Genesis House is a 21-bed confidential shelter that has been at capacity for about two years, Psota-Vazquez said.
Clients’ average stay is about 45 days, though some visits vary based on the individual’s or families’ needs, she said.
In 2024, the shelter served 184 adults and 181 children for more than 5,600 nights of safe shelter.
Outside shelter services, Safe Harbor offers after care and continued support services for domestic violence victims, job training and placement assistance, and legal advocacy.
It also offers a 26-week Men’s Anti-Violence Program, or MAP, to help men who have perpetrated domestic violence against a female intimate partner.
The MAP program when it started was rigid, Psota-Vazquez said, requiring an attendee to already have been adjudicated. Recently, it has opened up to include men who have not had cases filed against them in an attempt to reach them before they “get to their partner,” she said.
The organization’s goal is to raise $6,000 in donations or gift cards to purchase Christmas gifts for the children, or allow their families to purchase items with the gift cards. Donations to the holiday drive may be made online at www.genesishouseshelter.org or iat 2929 West River Road N., Elyria.
The Community Guide
OBERLIN – In October, Langston Middle School students and siblings Falon Vargo, 14, and Gabe Vargo, 13, went to Swannanoa, N.C., with their parents, Noel Vargo and Jen Clark (Vargo) in an effort to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
They had planned to travel to Charlotte, N.C., to attend a wedding and stay for a long weekend to visit family, but instead changed their plans. Shortly after the hurricane happened, Jen sat with her family at dinner and explained the situation in North Carolina. She asked them to consider cutting their family visit short in lieu of going to the disaster area to volunteer and help in any way we could.
“Our family unanimously agreed and put together a plan to gather supplies, clean out the trailer and collect donations,” Jen Vargo said. They were able to gather donations from local fire departments, sub shops, Home Depot, members of the medieval reenactment group Society for Creative Anachronism, and Jen’s own business, Silvertree Souq.
The family left the morning of Friday, Oct. 18.
“Travel through the hurricane affected areas added several extra hours to their anticipated travel time, and they had to bypass several highways. As the family traveled south, they passed trucks carrying supplies, heavy earth-moving machinery, and lines of power company trucks,” Jen Vargo said.
By the time the family arrived at their destination - a volunteer-led supply distribution center at Silverados, near the border of the Black Mountain and Swannanoa - they could not believe what they saw.
“In Swannanoa, many buildings had been destroyed or severely damaged,” Falon Vargo said. “Many people were cold, since they were living in nylon tents. The river going through Swannanoa, which
typically was pretty small and shallow, rose more than 20 feet, which very much contributed to all of the damage. City sewer pipes and deep holes were exposed, and there were even cars and park benches in trees. Train tracks were torn apart, and bridges were destroyed.” Gabe Vargo was shocked at the amount of mud and debris in the area.
“We saw cars in trees and trees knocked down. There was little to no grass because thick mud was everywhere,” he said.
“There was so much debris in all the ponds and the river, and it was tangled and thick. There were no standing homes, they were all destroyed.”
However, now that it is winter shelter is a critical need since people are living in tents or on cots in temporary spaces.They need RVs or campers, or canvas tents that can support wood stoves. They need propane fuel to maintain their heaters and cook stoves.
The family plans to return to the area on Dec. 26. Donations are being accepted to the Valley Strong Hurricane Relief Fund at www.valleystrongdisasterrelief.org. For more information, please contact the family at jclarkcfr@gmail.com or text at (614) 596-5905.
Emeka
Carissa Woytach
PHOTO PROVIDED BY VARGO-CLARK FAMILY
Langston Middle School students were smong those helping hurricane victims in North Carolina in October.
Langston students helped hurricane victims in N.C.
Falon and Gabe Vargo, helped out in Swannanoa, N.C., with their parents, Noel Vargo and Jen Clark (Vargo).
Give the gift of music
John Benson
The Community Guide
Music is the gift that keeps giving.
That’s why during the holiday gift-buying season, the options are seemingly endless with an array of recently released new titles from famous acts. This means there’s something for everyone on your list.
That includes extensive box sets by iconic artists along with a scattered flurry of Christmas releases. More so, there are vinyl rereleases galore with forgotten albums seeing the light of day.
Just take a look:
HOLIDAY MUSIC
Barenaked Ladies “Barenaked for the Holidays” (Craft Recordings) LP
Two decades after Barenaked Ladies released “Barenaked for the Holidays,” which features original tunes (“Christmas Pics,” “Hanukkah Blessings,” “Green Christmas”) and seasonal classics (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “I Have a Little Dreidel,” “Auld Lang Syne”), the alternative act for the first time put out the fun album on vinyl available in a variety of festive colors.
Jimmy Fallon “Holiday Seasoning” (Republic Records) CD/LP Late-night television host Jimmy Fallon’s new holiday comedy album “Holiday Seasoning” includes previously released singles “It Was A… (Masked Christmas)” feat. Ariana Grande & Megan Thee Stallion, “Almost Too Early For Christmas” feat. Dolly Parton and “Wrap Me Up” feat. Meghan Trainor, as well as new recordings “Christmas Ding Dong Holiday” feat. the Jonas Brothers and “You’ll be There” feat. Justin Timberlake.
Little Big Town “The Christmas Record” (Capitol Records Nashville) CD/LP Grammy Award-winning Little Big Town recently released its first holiday album, “The Christmas Record.” The 11-track record features new interpretations of country classics, as well as originals including the single “Glow,” which is garnering attention this holiday season.
Vince Gill and Amy Grant “When I Think Of Christmas” (UMG Nashville) CD/LP Music City power couple Vince Gill and Amy Grant have teamed up for special holiday album “When I Think Of Christmas.” The 11-track affair captures the spirit of their beloved “Christmas at the Ryman” concerts. In addition to nine previously released tracks, the project includes two new recordings -- the title track and “Til the Season Comes Round Again.”
EVERYTHING ELSE
10,000 Maniacs “MTV Unplugged” (Rhino) CD/LP
When 10,000 Maniacs went on “MTV Unplugged” in 1993, the alternative act had an underground following. However, the acoustic platform really expanded its audience thanks to the group’s cover of Patti Smith’s Bruce Springsteen-penned “Because The Night.” Now the newly released remastered effort includes David Byrne joining the live performance for covers of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene” and Jimmie Dale Gilmore’s “Dallas.” Beastie Boys “Ill Communication (30th Anniversary)” (Grand Royal, Capitol Records and UMe) LP/cassette
The Beastie Boys’ No. 1 fourth studio effort “Ill Communication” is getting quite the anniversary treatment. The “Sabotage” driven album, which features iconic tracks “Sure Shot” and “Root Down,” is once again available on vinyl. There’ also a third LP featuring bonus
tracks, remixes, B-sides and assorted oddities.
Billy Idol “Rebel Yell (40th Anniversary Deluxe Expanded Edition)” (Capitol/UMe) CD/LP
Fans who rediscovered Billy Idol at the recent Rock Hall induction ceremony where the spikey-haired artist performed Ozzy Osbourne’s “No More Tears” may want to go down memory lane with the recently released 40th anniversary expanded version of his sophomore album “Rebel Yell.” In addition to the hits (“Eyes Without a Face,” Flesh for Fantasy,” “Rebel Yell,” and “Catch My Fall”), there’s unreleased track “Best Way Out of Here” and a cover of the Rose Royce single “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore.”
Bush “Sixteen Stone (30th Anniversary)” (Craft Recordings) LP
The beginning of the post-grunge era officially began 30 years ago with the release of Bush’s debut album, “Sixteen Stone,” which includes radio hits “Everything Zen,” “Glycerine,” “Comedown,” “Machinehead” and “Little Things.” The Gavin Rossdale-led band is giving fans a special 30th-anniversary double vinyl reissue, which includes six limited-edition colored pressings.
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young “Live At Fillmore East, 1969” (Rhino) CD/LP
Roughly six weeks after playing Woodstock, the newly formed Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (CSNY) played four shows in two days at The Fillmore East. Now the iconic classic rock band’s fourth concert -- which featured both acoustic and electric sets -- has been unearthed featuring material from its then recently released debut album, “Crosby, Stills & Nash,” and 1970 CSNY debut, “Déjà Vu.” The magical time capsule boasts “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes,” “Helplessly Hoping,” “Our House” and “Wooden Ships,” as well as an amazing cover of “Blackbird” by The Beatles.
David Bowie “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars” (Parlophone Records) Blu-Ray Audio
The owners of David Bowie’s music are following the Jimi Hendrix business model by re-releasing old titles with added twists. A year after the release of a bonus edition of the motion picture soundtrack to “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars,” fans can now hear the source album in Dolby Atmos spatial audio. You better believe it, “Starman” is mind-blowing amazing.
The Doors “Alive She Cried” (Rhino) LP Reissued on vinyl for the first time since its original 1983 release, The Doors’ concert compilation album “Alive She Cried” is a highwater mark in terms of live Jim Morrison. There’s “Light My Fire,” “Moonlight Drive” and “Love Me Two Times,” but it doesn’t get any better than the group’s cover of Them’s “Gloria.”
Elvis Costello “King Of America & Other Realms” (UMe) CD The ever-creative Elvis Costello has found a unique way to repackage his past with the new “King Of America & Other Realms,” which explores the songwriter’s lifelong love, fascination and influence of American music. The 97-track musical journey is centered around his 1986 career-defining, T Bone Burnettproduced album “King Of America” with previously unreleased demos, outtakes and live recordings.
The Flaming Lips “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots (Atmos mixes)” (Warner Bros.) BluRay Audio
More than two decades after blowing the minds of fans with the Grammy Award-winning “Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots,” The
Flaming Lips are at it again. Wait until audiophiles realize they can hear “Do You Realize??” in Dolby Atmos.
Fleetwood Mac “Mirage Tour ‘82” (Rhino) CD/LP
Post “Rumors” and “Tusk,” Fleetwood Mac in 1982 was atop of the rock world with its new album “Mirage.” Now fans can relive the magical time with a concert recording culled from two sold-out shows at The Forum in Los Angeles. The 22-track live collection features previously unreleased recordings of “Landslide,” “Don’t Stop” and “Never Going Back Again.”
Godsmack “Awake” (Republic/Universal Music) LP Somewhere there’s a fan of hard rock act Godsmack who has been patiently waiting for the group’s 1998 sophomore album “Awake” to be remastered and released on vinyl. The Grammy Award-nominated album included fan favorites “Bad Magick,” “Awake,” “Greed” and “Vampires.” Well, the wait is now over.
Grateful Dead “From The Mars Hotel (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)” (Rhino) CD/LP The spring of 1974 found The Grateful Dead at a creative milestone with the release of “From The Mars Hotel,” which included fan favorites “Scarlet Begonias,” “Ship of Fools,” “U.S. Blues” and “China Doll.” Fans will want to check out the newly remastered and expanded 50th anniversary release that includes a previously unreleased live show with great versions of “Me And Bobby McGee” and “Sugar Magnolia.”
Michael Bublé “The Best Of Bublé” (Reprise Records) CD/LP Fresh off joining “The Voice,” Canadian crooner Michael Bublé recently released the 21-track greatest hits that includes smash hits “Haven’t Met You Yet,” “Feeling Good,” “Sway,” “Everything” and “It’s A Beautiful Day,” as well as unreleased tracks “Don’t Blame It On Me” and “Quizas, Quizas, Quizas.”
The Notorious B.I.G. “Ready to Die (30th Anniversary)” (Rhino) LP
The 30th-anniversary release of hip-hop royalty The Notorious B.I.G.’s multi-platinum debut, “Ready to Die,” features a doublealbum reissue with newly reimagined limitededition cover art. The epitome of ‘90s rap, the powerful effort includes hits “Juicy,” “Big Poppa” and “One More Chance.”
Paul McCartney and Wings “One Hand Clapping” (UMe) CD/LP
Known as one of the most bootlegged live albums ever, Paul McCartney and Wings’ “One Hand Clapping” is finally getting a proper release. The official album from seldom-seen documentary film featuring 1974 studio sessions includes mega-hits “Live and Let Die,” “Band on the Run,” “Jet” and “Maybe I’m Amazed.”
The Ramones “Road To Ruin” (Rhino) LP Rhino High Fidelity recently released The Ramones’ 1978 album “Road To Ruin,” which marked the debut of Marky Ramone on drums. Naturally, the effort includes the group’s definitive song “I Wanna Be Sedated,” as well as “I Wanted Everything” and the pop-country “Don’t Come Close.”
Shania Twain “Greatest Hits” (Mercury Nashville/UMe) LP
Two decades after Shania Twain released a best-of collection, the album finally came out on vinyl. The compilation includes No. 1 singles “Any Man Of Mine,” “(If You’re Not In It For Love) I’m Outta Here!,” “You Win My Love,” “No One Needs To Know,” “You’re Still The One,” “Love Gets Me Every Time” and “Honey, I’m Home.”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe “Live In France: The 1966 Concert In Limoges” (Elemental Records) CD/LP Fans who are still discovering influential early rocker Sister Rosetta Tharpe can experience the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s greatness in the recently released “Live In France: The 1966 Concert In Limoges.” One listen to “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” and you’ll be hooked on the Godmother of Rock ’n’ Roll.
The Stooges “The Stooges” (Rhino) LP Punk rock bellwether act The Stooges recently had its seminal self-titled debut released in Rhino High Fidelity. The limitededition, high-end vinyl includes “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “1969.” The collector’s item is a must-have for diehard fans.
The Supremes “We Remember Sam Cooke” (Elemental Music) LP The new Motown Sound Collection includes many forgotten albums getting released on vinyl. For instance, The Supremes’ “We Remember Sam Cooke” includes covers of “You Send Me,” “Cupid” and “Shake.”
The Temptations “Wish it Would Rain” (Elemental Music) LP Another album released on vinyl as part of the new Motown Sound Collection is The Temptations’ “Wish It Would Rain,” which features the titular No. 1 single. The album was the last by the vocal group to feature original lead singer David Ruffin.
U2 “ZOO TV – Live In Dublin 1993 EP” (Interscope Records) CD/LP More than a year after U2 revisited its 1991 platinum album “Achtung Baby” at The Sphere in Las Vegas, the rock band recently released “ZOO TV – Live In Dublin 1993 EP.” The highly bootlegged concert features “Zoo Station,” “Mysterious Ways,” “Tryin’ To Throw Your Arms Around The World,” “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” and “Love Is Blindness.”
Van Halen “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (Expanded Edition)” (Rhino) CD/LP/Blu-ray Van Halen’s “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” remains a fan favorite with hits “Poundcake,” “Top Of The World” and “Right Now.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee act recently released an expanded edition of the album, including an unreleased 1991 concert In Dallas. However, the 1993 live recording “Live: Right Here, Right Now” remains the superior snapshot of the era.
Various artists “Petty Country: A Country Music Celebration of Tom Petty” (Big Machine Records) CD/LP Having always boasted a southern country charm, Tom Petty was the subject of a new tribute album by Music City stars. The list includes everyone from George Strait (“You Wreck Me”), Steve Earle (“Yer So Bad”) and Willie Nelson (“Angel Dream No. 2”) to Luke Combs (“Runnin’ Down A Dream”), Chris Stapleton (“I Should Have Known It”), Wynonna Judd (“Refugee”) and Brothers Osborne (“I Won’t Back Down”). Reach John Benson at ndiffrence@attt.net.
Michael McDonald “What a Fool Believes: A Memoir” (Dey Street Books) book Solo artist and Doobie Brothers member Michael McDonald recently released “What a Fool Believes: A Memoir,” which was cowritten with comedian/actor Paul Reiser. The book includes unforgettable stories that found the Rock Hall inductee interacting with everyone from James Taylor and Ray Charles to Carly Simon and the recently deceased Quincy Jones.
Reach John Benson at ndiffrence.net
Send sports news to news@lcnewspapers.com.
Wellington beats Oberlin in tight game
Wellington led 15-6 after the first quarter but Oberlin battled back to tie the game 21-21 at halftime. Wellington led in the second half until Oberlin took at 36-35 lead with 3:47 left in the game. But Wellington retook the lead and held on to win 41-38.
Firelands beats Western Reserve
Firelands hosted Western Reserve in their season opener. Firelands started off quickly by jumping out to a 12-3 first quarter lead, and widened the gap to 28-12 at halftime. Western Reserve made runs in the second half, they could not make up the deficit and Firelands holds on to win 54-45.
Oberlin beats Black River Oberlin started fast, jumping out to a 17-7 first quarter lead. Oberlin increased its lead in each remaining quarter to cruise to a convincing 60-25 win over Black
by Russ Gifford
Keystone wins thriller
Keystone held a small lead throughout much of the game and led 50-37 at the end of the third quarter. However Sandusky made a late game run, closing the score to 56-54 with 1:24 left in the fourth quarter. Keystone regained their momentum and picked up a 65-59 win.
Keystone’s Jayda Gaines gets a layup past Sandusky’s Ra’Kiya Collins. Above, Oberlin’s Jayana Jones fights to get past Black RIver’s Morgan Kubitz.
Left, Firelands’ Jackson Lima gets fouled by Western Reserve’s Brexton Fraelich at the rim.
Firelands’ Rylan Copen gets to the basket past Western Reserve’s Caleb Pausch.
Firelands’ Ayden Fortner gets two points past Western Reserve’s Tyler Wood.
Photos
The Community Guide
River.
Oberlin’s Candice Locklear steals the ball from Wellington’s Grace Knapp.
Left, Oberlin’s Janiah Bowen-Pride drives past Black River’s Hailee Moskal.
Keystone’s Madyson Sokolowski gets two points past Sandusky’s Amari Prentice.
Wellington’s Brooke Lehmkuhl gets points past Oberlin’s Clara McCown.
Wellington’s Brooke Lehmkuhl blocks the shot of Oberlin’s Larissa
North Pointe to perform ‘Nutcracker’ Ballet will perform “The Nutcracker” Friday through Sunday at the Lorain Palace Theatre, 617 Broadway Ave, Lorain. Shows will be at 7 p.m. all three days with 2 p.m. matinees on Saturday and Sunday.
The company’s production of the holiday classic is an imaginative staging unlike you’ve ever seen before. For more info, visit northpointeballet.org/ nutcracker.
Oberlin Library board to meet
Oberlin Public Library Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting followed by the 2025 organizational meeting at the library on Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. The meetings are open to the public. Russia Twp. year-end meeting Dec. 30
The New Russia Township Board of Trustees will conduct its 2024 Year End and the 2025 Organizational meeting on Dec. 30 at 5 p.m. at the township offices, 46300 Butternut Ridge Road, Oberlin.
Vermilion church to hold live nativity
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Vermilion will hold a live nativity event called the “Breath of Heaven” from 4-8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free but non-perishable food items that can be donated to local food pantries are welcome.
Mexican Mutual Christmas Dinner set
LORAIN — Mexican Mutual Society’s Christmas Dinner will be held from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday. Dinners are $20 and include tamale, tostada, enchilada, pernil, rice and beans.
Doors open at 3:30 p.m., there will be a margarita special and cash bar.
Mexican Mutual Society is at 1820 E. 28th St. For more information, call (440) 277-7375. Amherst Historical Potluck in Jan.
The Amherst Historical Society’s annual Potluck Luncheon and Meeting will be Jan. 11, 2025 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Volunteers, members and supporters are invited to the event at the Amherst Historical Society Hall, 113 South Lake Street, Amherst.
There is no cost but reservations must be made by Jan 7 at (440) 988-7255 or office@amhersthistoricalsociety.org
The main dish will be provided. Please contribute your dish to the potluck by last name category:
A through E— soup or salad F through K— vegetable side dish/casserole L through R— starch side dish/casserole S through Z— dessert
YEAR-IN-REVIEW
BULLETIN BOARD
Amherst Historical Super Bowl party
Its Super Bowl Fundraiser will be held Feb. 9 at the Amherst Historical Society Hall, 113 South Lake Street, Amherst.
Doors open at 5 p.m. Kickoff is at 6:30. It is $10 per person.
The game will be shown on a 10-foot screen. There will be tailgate food and a 50/50 raffle. BYOB with pop and water available; RSVP by Feb. 1 at (440) 988-7255 or office@ amhersthistoricalsociety.org
Spark Theater 4 Youth show Saturday
The Workshop Players will host the Spark Theater 4 Youth Saturday as they present “The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly.”
The show is at 1 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children.
For more information, contact Pastor Brian Russell at Community Congregational United Church of Christ at (440) 988-9148 or pastor@theccucc. org; or Sister Mary Berigan at Blessing House at (440) 240-1851 or srmary@blessinghouse.org
Jingle run/walk on Christmas Eve
The annual Jingle All the Way 5K and 1-mile fun walk will be held in downtown Amherst Christmas Eve morning. Registration begins at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. run.
Non-participants can come out to see the participants dressed in holiday attire as they walk and run through town, meet with Santa and Mrs.Claus or have a mug of hot cocoa.
Last year Community Congregational United Church of Christ, along with approximately 250 participants, raised over $5,000 for Blessing House, a crisis center providing shelter for children and support for their families.
Contact Pastor Brian Russell at Community Congregational United Church of Christ at (440) 988-9148 or pastor@theccucc.org; or Sister Mary Berigan at Blessing House at (440) 240-1851 or srmary@blessinghouse.org
Lorain Historical Society gift shop open
The Lorain Historical Society’s Museum and Gift Shop will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through Dec. 21. Discounts, as much as half off some items, will be offered on the last day, Dec. 21.
Items for sale include pieces from its 1924 tornado collection.
For more information call (440) 245-2563 or visit www.lorainhistory.org. The Lorain Historical Society is located in the Carnegie Building at 329 W. 10th St., Lorain.
Wellington rescue hearing continued
A probable cause hearing in Oberlin Municipal Court against a Wellington-based animal rescue that was raided by the Friendship Animal Protective League on Nov. 20 has been continued to Dec. 23.
The hearing against Lily Rose Lee and her rescue was continued from Monday due to a medical emergency, according to court records.
The new hearing time and date is 8:30 a.m. Dec. 23.
The Friendship APL removed 37 animals from Lee’s Wellington property after allegedly finding unsanitary conditions including dirty cages and dehydrated animals with no access to fresh water.
Lee, who was allowed to keep 19 animals, said she had enough room for all 56 animals she had.
Formerly known as Michelle Knight, Lee is a kidnapping survivor who was freed in 2013 after nearly 11 years of captivity.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Friday
n Destination Hibernation: Animals Fridays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Main Library. Learn how animals, plants and trees change to survive during the winter months. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs. n Holiday cardmaking, 2-3 p.m., Domonkas Branch. Join us for a relaxing hour of making heartfelt cards to give to loved ones. We’ll provide the supplies, you supply the jolly creativity! Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
n Canva Christmas cards, 3 p.m., South Lorain Branch. Learn how to use Canva, a free graphic design platform, to create holiday cards to print or post on social media. An active email address is required. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
Saturday
n Christmas Cookie Exchange from 1-3 p.m. at the Columbia Library branch. Bring two dozen of your own homemade cookies and copies of your recipe and exchange them with others to build a diverse cookie platter for the holidays. Participants should bring their own containers and label cookies for allergens. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
n The Oberlin Heritage Center will have a holiday open house from 1-4 p.m. at the Little Red Schoolhouse. The event is family oriented and will feature a visit from Santa.
n Classic Hollywood Christmas musicals, 2-3 p.m., North Ridgeville Library branch. Enjoy a celebration of Hollywood Christmas musicals from the ’40s and ’50s featuring clips and songs from movies like “Holiday Inn,” “White Christmas,” “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “Christmas in Connecticut.” Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary.org/programs.
n The Spectacular History of Broadway Musicals: 1880s to 1950s, 2-3 p.m., Domonkas Library branch. Learn about the origins of New York City’s famous theater district, its ties to historical events, key changes in the musical theater artform and the must-see shows of each decade in this series of presentations. Preregistration required at LorainPublicLibrary. org/programs. n Santa will visit the Amherst Public Library during a festive event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a camera for a photo and enjoy holiday crafts and activities. Santa will be available for photos from 11-11:45 a.m. Get more information at at www. amherstpubliclibrary.org or (440) 988-4230.
Tony Gallo to retire as head of Chamber
The Community Guide
Tony Gallo will retire as president and CEO of the Lorain County Chamber of Commerce in December 2025, the economic development organization announced. By his retirement, Gallo, now 61, will have led the Chamber for more than 12 years and spent more than a decade prior to that as its director of business development.
“I’m going to do something, I just don’t know what that something is yet,” Gallo said.
“I’ve been working non-stop since 1986, and I know a lot of people would say ‘Well, I’m working to my 70s, working to my 80s’ … But I want to enjoy time with my wife and be able to travel and do some things we’ve not been able to do.” Gallo
Gifts from theHeart
The spirit of theholidaysis about giving, notspending money.Althoughattimes, this becomeshardtoremember.
Kid Scoop News Librarian Jim Silverman has acool way to give gifts that warmthe heart and don’t costa cent!
“Selectsome books fromthe library!” says Jim. “Wrapthem up andtuckthemunder the tree.”
Of course,you have to return themafter acouple of weeks. But by then, thebooks are read.
Awrappedlibrarybook providesthe joyofthe gift, costs no money andafterwards, you don’thavetowonder where to store it
Number thebooks in alphabetical order.
The GiftofTime
Create acoupon book of chores andactions youcan take to be helpful. Could you take outthe trash? Wash the dishes? Sweep the floor?Makealist of helpful things you could do forsomeone in your family.
It’s the Thought That Counts
It trulyisthe loving thought behind agiftthatmakes it special.And,thoughts arefree! On apiec special th one. It co afamous somethin your own Decorate to offer agift that will touch the heart.
Givea Pet… Rock!
Want
Howmany di erences can you nd between these twopictures?
Find asweet, roundedrockoutside. Clean it off. Paintitand give it as a gift.Write alittle story about therock. Maybe give it aname.Makealistof instructions on howtocare forit.
theGiftof HelpingOut Find the twoidentical rocks.
Step up andoffer to help somee. Can you help someone carrying tofstuff? Can you help pick up fter agame?Can youpickupsome trashonthe playground?Can you help an older neighborwith yard korrunning an errand forthem?
These little actionscan makeabig difference in someone’s day!
Whatis
